Table 1.
Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline
| All (n = 50) | Groups | P-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM (n = 25) | HM (n = 25) | |||
| Age (mean) ± SD | 74.84 ± 11.8 | 73.68 ± 14.2 | 76.00 ± 8.8 | 0.68 |
| Men (mean) | 26 (52.0) | 13 (52.0) | 13 (52.0) | 1.00 |
| MLHFQ [95CI] | 24.58 [19.30;29.86] | 20.20 [14.48;25.92] | 28.96 [19.97–37.95] | 0.07 |
| EQ5D utilities [95CI] | 0.78 [0.72;0.85] | 0.81 [0.74;0.87] | 0.76 [0.64;0.88] | 0.47 |
| Pacing indication (%) | ||||
| Sick sinus syndrome | 24 (48.0) | 12 (48.0) | 12 (48.0) | 0.65 |
| Atrioventricular block | 20 (40.0) | 11 (44.0%) | 9 (36.0) | |
| Chronic AF with Bradycardia | 6 (12.0) | 2 (8.0) | 4 (16.0) | |
| Disease manifestations (%) | ||||
| Syncope | 14 (28.0) | 8 (32.0) | 6 (24.0) | 0.81 |
| Dizziness | 25 (50.0) | 12 (48.0) | 13 (52.0) | |
| Dyspnoea | 11 (22.0) | 5 (20.0) | 6 (24.0) | |
| Service derivated (%) | ||||
| Emergency dept. | 3 (6.0) | 1 (4.0) | 2 (8.0) | 0.51 |
| Cardiology ward | 14 (28.0) | 5 (20.0) | 9 (36.0) | |
| Primary healthcare | 4 (8.0) | 2 (8.0) | 2 (8.0) | |
| Other hospitals | 29 (58.0) | 17 (68.0) | 12 (48.0) | |
| Stimulation (%) | ||||
| DDDR | 44 (88.0) | 23 (92.0) | 21 (84.0) | 0.33 |
| VVIR | 6 (12.0) | 2 (8.0) | 4 (16.0) | |
| Comorbidities (%) | ||||
| Dislipidemia | 27 (54.0) | 13 (52.0) | 14 (56.0) | 0.50 |
| Obesity (BMI > 30) | 1 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (4.0) | 0.50 |
| Tachyarrhythmia | 18 (36.0) | 7 (28.0) | 11 (44.0) | 0.19 |
| Hypertension | 32 (64.0) | 17 (68.0) | 15 (60.0) | 0.38 |
| Diabetes Mellitus | 6 (12.0) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (24.0) | 0.01 |
| Other comorbidities (%) | ||||
| None | 18 (36.0) | 11 (44.0) | 7 (28.0) | 0.39 |
| Others | 10 (20.0) | 6 (24.0) | 4 (16.0) | |
| Coronary heart diseases | 22 (44.0) | 8 (32.0) | 14 (56.0) | |
| Pharmaceutical treatment (%) | ||||
| Antiaggregants | 18 (36.0) | 8 (32.0) | 10 (40.0) | 0.38 |
| Anticoagulants | 25 (50.0) | 10 (40.0) | 15 (60.0) | 0.13 |
| Antiarrhythmics | 18 (36.0) | 7 (28.0) | 11 (44.0) | 0.19 |
| Antihypertensives | 32 (64.0) | 18 (72.0) | 14 (56.0) | 0.19 |
N = 50 (Telemonitoring group: 25; Hospital Monitoring group: 25). Values are expressed as means or proportions. 95CI: 95% confidence interval of means; AF atrial fibrillation, BMI body mass index, EQ5D EuroQoL-5D, DDD bicameral pacemaker with two electrodes placed in the atrium and in the ventricle with the ability to modulate frequency of stimulation, MLHFQ Minnesota Living with Heart Failure, VVIR unicameral pacemaker with an electrode in the ventricle with the ability to modulate frequency of stimulation